960 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



they work too hard, read too little, think too little, and do not spend sufficient time 

 in social culture; consequently they make life a drudgery, and its object the gaining of 

 dollars and cents, while their intellectual culture is in many cases sadly neglected. Going 

 so seldom into society, it happens in many instances that they finally come to have an 

 aversion to it, and feel awkward and out of place when in the society of well educated and 

 refined people. Now there is no reason for this; the fault is in the farmer himself, and not 

 in his business; his occupation, if rightly considered, does not debar him or his family from 

 intellectual enjoyment, or the advantages of the refining influences of social life; it is self- 

 imposed, and in time becomes a habit so confirmed that it seems difficult to break, and soon 

 becomes to be regarded as a necessity. The farmer s occupation is one that is ennobling and 

 elevating, and there is no reason whatever why those who till the soil or have the management 

 of farm animals should not experience the refinements which are the result of mental 

 culture, and formal social life, or should not feel perfectly self-poised and at ease in the 

 parlors or assemblages of the most refined and cultivated people in the world. If the farmer 

 would take advantage of the facilities afforded by advanced agriculture, and keep abreast with 

 the age in which he lives, employing the best implements in the performance of his labor, 

 the most approved methods of practice, together with all the aids to be derived from the 

 reading of the best books and papers on agricultural topics, there would be a great saving of 

 physical strength and time, and larger profits, thus affording more opportunity for cultivating 

 the mind and enjoying the influences of refined social life. It does a farmer good to doff 

 his business bargains in the pursuit of dollars and cents, his farm talk of crops and cattle, 

 with his working garb, and in his best attire mingle with a motley company of his neighbors, 

 men, women, young men, and maidens, for a pleasant recreation. 



Such contact with other minds has a refining influence, it rounds off the sharp corners 

 and idiosyncrasies of an individual s character, polishes off the rough surfaces, and makes 

 him feel better satisfied with himself and the world around him, while he thus naturally falls 

 into the ways of an intuitive kindness, which is, in fact, the truest politeness, the doing to 

 others as he would that they should do to him; thus a more genial and refined manner is 

 unconsciously developed. If a person is naturally morose, pleasant, refining society is one of 

 the best means of dissipating that tendency. In attempting to please and entertain others, 

 one is himself pleased and entertained, and after an evening spent in pleasant social converse 

 retires with many of the rough asperities of his nature considerably toned down. This 

 influence remains for a few days, and would be permanent, if it could be occasionally 

 re-enforced by such participations, the result being most agreeable and useful. A person can 

 be more useful to the world and to himself, be a better and happier man, for enjoying the 

 refining influences of social life. If farmers generally would work less, and spend more 

 time in improving their intellectual and social faculties, they would live longer, be more useful 

 and happy, and more successful in their business. A knowledge of the common courtesies 

 observed in the best society is a great benefit to every one, young or old, and has a tendency 

 to make a person feel self-poised and at ease under all circumstances, besides making one 

 appear at better advantage in society, since it relieves from all embarrassment and awkward 

 ness. 



Such information can only be obtained from reading and coming in contact with 

 cultivated and refined people. Farmers should be interested in all that pertains to public 

 improvements, and the social elevation of the town in which they reside. Ignoring these 

 things, and they ignore the best interests of themselves and families. Every country town 

 ought to have a public library of choice reading. Even though small in the number of its 

 books and periodicals, let them be wisely selected, and the number can be generally enlarged 

 every year. Such an institution, properly managed, has a wonderfully educating and refining 

 influence upon a community. Stated social gatherings, literary societies, lyceums, with 

 perhaps an occasional lecture, are also educating in their influence, and this is an admirable way 

 of spending one or two evenings of the week in winter, or at other times when the season is 

 such as will admit. 



Character. The term character and reputation are very apt to be confounded. 

 Character might very properly be defined as what the man really is; and reputation, as what 

 others say lie is; hence, a person s reputation is not always (although generally) an index of 

 his true character. For instance, a person may be maliciously misrepresented, misunderstood, 

 or through lack of appreciation in others, not enjoy that good reputation which his character 

 merits; while on the other hand, his qualities may be so over-estimated, and such a false 

 value set upon them, that he may have a far better reputation than his true character, if 



